‘Once Upon a Time’ Hero and Villain of the Week: A Whole New World
Warning: This recap for “A Wondrous Place” episode of Once Upon a Time contains spoilers.
Tell us, Princess Jasmine — when did you last let your heart decide?
This week’s episode brings back Jasmine and Aladdin, and in OUAT fashion, turns this fairy tale story on its head. It involves one magic carpet ride, some enchanted powder, and one spunky mermaid friend. But this time, it’s Jasmine who has to step up and be the hero — not just for herself, but for Aladdin, for Ariel, for Hook, and for the entire city of Agrabah. She just has to believe she can do it.
Aladdin may have once been a Saviour, but now, it’s Jasmine’s turn to play hero.
OUAT is pretty much all about girl power, all the time, so in the B story, we get a few bonding scenes with Emma, Regina, and Snow. They are going to need each other, and many others, though, to deal with the real threat: Gideon.
Here’s a rundown of this week’s episode…
Hero of the Week: Jasmine
Flashbacks to Agrabah reveal that Jasmine’s father promised a very flashy diamond ring to any successful suitor who could woo her and become the next prince. Jafar very clearly wants that ring and demonstrates the extent of his power by turning one of the other hopefuls into a walking stick.
In the present day, Aladdin and Jasmine are traipsing through the Enchanted Forest, trying to find a way to Agrabah. She gets the idea of rowing out to the middle of the lake — because in her past life, she once met Ariel! Yes, the mermaid showed up in Agrabah looking for Eric. Jasmine tried to help her by taking her on a magic carpet ride. But when Ariel found Eric, he turned out to be Jafar in disguise. And when Jasmine couldn’t find a hero to save the city, he vowed to use his powers on it.
Anyway, back to the lake, a Kraken threatens to overturn Aladdin and Jasmine’s boat… when Hook shows up to the rescue! Yes, he and Nemo’s crew were hunting for a Kraken to use its blood to return to Storybrooke. Unfortunately, Jasmine scared it off, and now Hook is mad. So is Nemo, because the attack imperils his ship. Jasmine uses her second wish to take everyone to a nearby island.
After Nemo and crew leave to salvage the ship, Jasmine, Aladdin, and Hook discover a cabin on the island — it’s Ariel’s! (Eric is away on business or something.) She has good news: She has Jafar trapped in a genie lamp.
But when she releases him from the lamp, he is able to break the spell. He knocks out everyone but Jasmine, and taunts her about the fact that Agrabah is trapped in the very diamond engagement ring her father used as a dowry. Jasmine offers a deal, but just when Jafar accepts, she throws some magic powder at him and transforms him into a walking stick. Jasmine has saved the day!
Using her final wish, Jasmine takes Aladdin, Hook, and Ariel to Agrabah, which is back to being a shining, shimmering, splendid city. “Let me show you my world,” she says.
But while Ariel can just swim back home, Hook is stuck. However, the mermaid offers him a lifeline — or an oyster line. Hook can phone home!
Villain of the Week: Gideon
Emma is in full-on, depressed breakup mode. She tells David that Hook killed his father and took off. She packs up his belongings. And she even lets herself get tricked into a ladies’ night with Regina and Snow (aka her own mother).
Snow gets wasted off one cocktail — though, to be fair, she is a mom and is suffering a sleeping curse. Seriously, Regina, get on that!
Regina means well, but the breakup is too fresh in Emma’s heart. She nurses her wounds over a drink with the bartender, Aesop, who reveals he knows heartbreak himself. She cries into a napkin and returns home.
There, as she takes the chest with Hook’s stuff to the garage, she hears his voice. Through an oyster shell, she hears Hook talking. He tells her he didn’t meant to leave her, but it was Gideon’s doing. He says he loves her and vows to find a way back home.
The line goes dead, though, and Aesop shows up. It’s not Aesop, though, of course — it’s Gideon! And now that he has a napkin with Emma’s tears on it, he can keep her and Hook apart… unless!
Unless, what? Emma wonders. What does she have to do?
Gideon offers her a deal. Hey, like father, like son, right? Emma can get Hook back if she kills the Black Fairy!
Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes ofOUAT for free on Yahoo View.
Read more from Yahoo TV:
‘Scandal’ Postmortem: Darby Stanchfield Talks Abby’s Difficult Choice
37 Funko Pop! TV Figures We Need in 2017
‘Grimm’ Series Finale Recap: Blood Simple
